Trump Orders Officers to Clear 62 Homeless Encampments In DC

Recently, Trump ordered the federal officers he set up to replace the local police in DC to remove all 62 homeless encampments. Several of the encampments have already been cleared up by Friday. Officers were seen throwing sleeping bags, tents, and other belongings into a parked trash truck. [1] The camps were being targeted starting late Thursday.

Just before midday on Thursday, crews moved to a grassy park near the Lincoln Memorial, dismantling one of the smaller encampments that have irked Trump. During a press conference this week, Trump put homeless people, criminals, and people addicted to drugs or suffering from mental illnesses in the same category. [2] He also said that they must vacate DC immediately.

“We’re going to be removing homeless encampments from all over our parks, our beautiful, beautiful parks, which a lot of people can’t walk on, they’re very dirty,” Trump said. [2] “There are many places they can go, we’re going to help them as much as you can help. But they’re not going to be allowed to turn our capital into a wasteland,” he added.

Washington residents are criticizing the move with concerns regarding the federal takeover of the city’s police department. [3] Jeraod Tyre, who has lived in the city for 15 years, has said that crime is on a decreasing trend. However, the federal takeover could aggravate the relationship with the homeless because they don’t have the same connections to the local community as police do. Another resident said that “being homeless isn’t a crime” and that fixing the core issue benefits everyone more than policing does.

Additionally, in the past five months, the US Park Police have removed 70 homeless encampments in state parks. [3] This leaves only two, which are set to be eliminated this week, according to the White House secretary, Karoline Leavitt.

Leavitt said homeless people “will be given the option to leave their encampment, to be taken to a homeless shelter, to be offered addiction or mental health services.” Those who refuse “will be susceptible to fines or to jail time.” [3]

Leavitt also mentioned that homeless people may be given shelter “FAR from the capital”. [3]

Sources:

1. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/15/us/politics/dc-homeless-encampments-police.html

2. https://www.npr.org/2025/08/14/nx-s1-5502247/trump-purge-homeless-washington

3. https://apnews.com/article/trump-homeless-washington-relocation-encampments-federal-takeover-305cb8108031ef67b31712a42852c3d5